[Alexandra/Bukit Merah/Queenstown/Tiong Bahru] Preschools

[TiggerMummy]

Hi stardust25


Each of the languages like Japanese, Korean and Mandarain do have their own native speaking teachers. As for the English teacher, she looks Spanish to me. The lead teacher is Indian. I can only speak for Pre-nursery. You may want to talk to the admin staff with regards to your concern.

The most important thing is you must feel comfortable with the school.

I think the kids get to hold the violins when they reach N2. Before that a violin teacher will come over once a week to give them exposure to the music played using violin.

Every week, the lead teacher will send out a weekly communication letter to the parents to inform us on what the kids will be learning for this week. I feel this is important as we know what the school is teaching and we can reinforce them at home. Everyday they will update their communication file, which we bring back home daily, to let us know how much food he had during lunch, how long was his nap etc.

There is a blue little notebook which allows parent to write down their questions. This is useful to working parents as most of the times it is our helpers who picked up the kids.

[shandee]

Gosh! Eaton @ Outram is at $5k per term !!?? I am very skeptical abt these \"branded\" schools.....will the kids turn out much better than kids who goes to \"normal\" sch....wat set them (branded sch) apart, allowing them to charge such exorbitant fees ??


I called JHS sometime in Jan (b4 CNY) and was told that they are moving to Valley Park & that their fees is ard $1.9k per term....I asked if I can view the place after they hv moved & settled-down and the lady (Nicole?) told me that she will give me a ring in early/ mid feb to arrg...hv not heard fr them yet....in comparison to ArtsKidz, JHS is a bit more expensive on a per-hr basis.... JHS seems to hv quite a fair bit of expat kids....how well does JHS kids transit to P1, anyone w experience to share on this?

So far, little pen & paper at ArtsKidz.... lots of art & craft....DD (N2) came back singing a lot of phonics songs \"Ah Ah, ants on the arms; Ah Ah ants on the arms\"........\"S S, snakes in the grassss; S S snakes in the grassss\"

At ArtsKidz, teachers would observe the child & detail the observation in the child's folder (which parents would receive @ yr-end)..... very real observation for DD last year (N1)! Reading the teacher's observation/ comments, I can really visualize DD saying all that she said !! This really impressed me. My concern w ArtsKidz would be how well the kids transit to P1.....anyone w experience to share on this?

how abt Chinese Kindergarten & YMCA ? Anyone can share....?

[cloubhappy.05320live.05320com]

Parents who are more concerned with preparing their child well for p1 definitely has to send their children to eng, math n chinese enrichment if their child is art kidz. It is not enough. Lots of interesting arts n craft. Minimal writing n few sheets of simple worksheets. Sch dun believe in academic focus. So it is gd for nursery level but once k1, parebts hv to do a lot at hm unless u share the same belief as the sch. But teachers are really good. Apart from getting too crowded n noisy, the environment is quite good. Concern is how safe is the gate? Any1 can enter the Sch.


Cos mainly jap kids, their eng std can’t go fast n far. But good thing is no singlish. Gd place for exposure to chinese but definitely not enough for p1.

Dun really ur expect ur child to b able to play a song or so from the violin after k1. Of course it depends on individual child again.

Kids love the Sch cos outdoor play every morning and lots of interesting activities n arts with nice teachers.

[stardust25]

Thanks all for your advice. Most helpful

[shandee]

Hi xk,

Fr yr reply, ur kid seem to hv studied in Artzkids.
Did ur child graduate fr Artzkids? If not, where did ur child graduate fr?
U happy w the K2 school ? Wld u recommend it?

[sunshine_06]

Hi


Mummies looking for childcare can visit Little SkoolHouse At Alexandra Hosptial. Before that, I had combed through almost every childcare center in Tiong Bahru and Bt Merah; had even visited Art Kidz. So i can understand the frustration.

Yes, for Art Kidz, I do have concerned over the school time and mainly whether my kid can cope with the P1 work since I already have an older kid in primary school. Because foundation in reading and writing is very very important.

But then finally settled in LSH and my kid is there for more than a year already.

The principal, Felicia is a nice and patient lady, so are the teachers there. The staff are mainly very caring towards the children. And every staff(even the cooking auntie) knows every child in the center as it is a pretty small centre.

Just that not sure is there a long waiting list.

[Yi.03882cloud]

Hi Stardust25,

I already visit Halifax rd recently, and think that’s below the standard concern on teacher( mostly from China), environment, safety issue compare to Pat house and CHilton. But the Montessori way they teach, after my observed, I think children quite understandable for the age of 18 mths. Just personally dun like e director of school, 100% not friendly, and the high percentage of China’s teacher. I really dun like my kid speak Mandarin in China way.
I haven’t decide my boy’s school, and he already 19 mths…really made upset for myself…
Hi Tiggermummy,
U mentioned e menu right, I also think that’s not nutrition enough to the children. Did u feedback to them about changing menu or cook by yourself?

[TiggerMummy]

Hi Yi@Cloud


I did feedback but their stand is that the food are nutritional enough. Maybe not much people feedback to them about it?

The teachers are quite accomodating. They allows you to bring other food to be given to your kid for lunch. I tried to give my ds porridge but he keep wanting what other kids are having. So in the end I give up. I just let him have what they served for lunch and tried to feed him other nutritional food outside of school.

[Clarie79]

Hi hi


I'm looking for a childcare center for my K1 dd, appreciate your feedback on the following schools:
1. Moral childcare at Blk 18 jalan membina
2. Bambini Montessori at Kim tian
3. YWCA childcare near tiong bahru

I had gone thru past few pages of comments but most were comments made in 2009-2010. Hope to have \"fresher updates\" on these schs. TIA! :rahrah:

[Yi.03882cloud]

Hi Clarie79,

Moral CC,I passed by e school, and I saw all e teachers chat to each other n no one care while e children were playing in indoor playground, and was quite messy for the groud.
For Bambini, I talk to e principle, school I think too small for them, and not look like practices in full Montessori. But e lady was friendly enough. And e charges was $1,200 before subsidy, dun think worth it.
Anyway, just my personal opinion…